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An autism charity fears people who benefit from its services may be deprived of the support they need if Cheshire East can’t sort parking issues created by the new lifestyle centre.

The autism network in Crewe caters for 150 individuals.

Although people who use the centre on Prince Albert Street are not physically disabled, many have severe anxiety issues.

Project co-ordinator Mick Rimmington said: “Some people with autism can be very anxious a lot of the time. New situations and a strange environment can raise that anxiety. Sometimes they need two members of staff to accompany them because the risk can be great.”

He said the new lifestyle centre being built on the existing Christ Church car parks in Crewe will cause major problems.

“At the moment, if we park straight outside, both members of staff can support the person into our centre. Parking further away they have two alternatives. They either both walk with the person to the centre but that can be very challenging because, being in different places can cause problems so that’s a no-go.

“The other way is for one carer to drop off the other and then go and park. But because of the risk assessment that can’t be done. There has to be two full-time carers all the time.

“A lot of the people who come to us come from residential care and if anything happened when there was only one member of staff when there should have been two then those staff would be in trouble.”

Mr Rimmington said close parking was also essential because one in three people with autism has epilepsy.

“If somebody has a seizure in the centre then we need quick access to transport,” he said. “This really is causing all kinds of problems.”

The Autism Network is currently expanding. Until recently it was open just three nights week, now it is two and a half days and four nights. Soon it will be open five days a week.

Mr Rimmington is appealing to Cheshire East to resolve the issue.

Autism Networks director John Hannon said he had talked to the council on numerous occasions.

“Some of our service users are blue badge holders and they will park outside there,” he said, adding that would make it extremely difficult for coaches to get to the lifestyle centre.

Cheshire East Council leader Michael Jones said the lifestyle centre was for the benefit of the people of Crewe.

“It has to have a parking policy and we are working to deliver that more than anyone realises,” he told the Chronicle yesterday.

He added: “This is a lifestyle centre, not just a leisure centre, and we’ve got a lot of people going in there.”